Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Making Sense Of Women’S Career Progression: Utilization Of Work/Life Practices In State Government Agencies, Maria J. D'Agostino

Publications and Research

In an effort to make sense of the work/life balance quandary, this article discusses preliminary results of a broader research project (D‘Agostino and Levine 2009) empirically examining the utilization of work/life practices by women in state-level government in the United States.. The purpose of this research is to examine whether women‘s utilization of work/life practices contributes to their career progression. Therefore, the central research question examines, what is the impact of work/life utilization practices on women’s career progression? Findings indicate that women who have reached executive level positions are more likely to utilize specific practices, such as flexible hours, than …

The Campaign For Bias-Free Policing In Vermont: One State’S Resistance To The Localization Of Federal Immigration Agency, Amanda L. Park

Capstone Collection

There are roughly 1,500 immigrants from Mexico and Central America currently working on farms in Vermont, helping to sustain approximately half of all milk produced in the state. But the lack of adequate visa-to-work options leaves these individuals without proper documentation to be in the US. As such, they are vulnerable to exploitation by their employers, susceptible to harassment from the communities in which they live, and under constant threat of deportation by federal immigration agents. Now, the US Department of Homeland Security—in charge of domestic defense and immigration—is attempting to use local and state law enforcement officers in the …

Defining Teaching Excellence: A Phenomenological Study Of Seven Nationally Recognized Secondary Educators, Rosalee A. Swartz

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Change has been an integral part of the American education system since the 1830s (Lucas, 1999) when universities began preparing students to teach. Over the past 20 years, changes including federal mandates (Disabilities Education Act, 1990; No Child Left Behind, 2003) and increasing diversity in school populations require a responding sensitivity from classroom teachers. In the midst of challenges that these changes present, teachers are increasingly asked to do more.

Research shows that nearly 50 percent of new teachers leave within the first five years of teaching, citing issues such as lack of preparation and mentorship, working conditions, pay, and …

Sources Of Altruistic Calling In Orthodox Jewish Communities: A Grounded Theory Ethnography, Stephen J. Linenberger

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study of altruistic calling the Orthodox Jewish community began with a line of inquiry, grounded in previous hypotheses and studies of factors that motivate altruism in the general population, including empathy, unintended consequences of altruism, altruistic role modeling, collectivism, and principlism. Counter to past research suggesting altruism is activated along an empathy-altruism path (Batson, et al., 2007) the findings of this study revealed a consistent low empathy response by participants when asked about their feelings about those in need. However, when asked to describe outcomes of helping situations, there was a consistent high empathetic joy response, indicating the helper …

Administration Without Borders, Jonathan G.S. Koppell

Publications from President Jonathan G.S. Koppell

To thrive in 2020, we must conceive of the field of public administration in the broadest possible terms. Phenomena that typically have been treated peripherally in our literature are emerging center stage in recent years, confirming that the “old” boundaries of our discipline do not reflect contemporary reality. After reviewing three key developments—the rise of mixed and nongovernmental institutions in public policy, the increasing importance of market mechanisms, and the assertion of meaningful global regulation—an argument is made for a broader reconception of “publicness” that goes hand in hand with the embrace of governance in lieu of administration.

Developing An Online Horseless Horse Learning Lesson: An Action Research Study, Jessica M. Bauman

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In today’s society it is becoming ever so important to find creative and influential outlets to keep young people occupied in positive ways. High quality youth programs are shown to make a positive difference in the lives of many young people; therefore, it is important to continue the use of established youth programs as well as develop new programs. Equine science programs have proven to be a popular and beneficial outlet for many youth due to the ability to learn a variety of life skills, improve character, and increase positive youth development in those youth who participate.

Traditional equine programs …

Discovering The Leadership Skills Of Alumni Who Participated In An Adult Agricultural Leadership Development Program: A Case Study, Terence Alan Hejny

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

No abstract provided.

Demographic Analysis Of Recovery Act Supported Jobs In Massachusetts, Quarters 1 And 2, 2010, David Sparks, Paige Ransford, Carol Hardy-Fanta, Christian Weller, Meryl Thomson, Robert Turner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

Massachusetts policy makers decided to go beyond existing ARRA federal reporting requirements and collect additional data in order to gauge the effectiveness of ARRA’s fiscal policy by counting the number of individuals who have received an ARRA-funded paycheck. In addition, policy makers wanted to look at some of the demographic characteristics of this population. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the data that the MA Recovery Office collected during the first and second quarters of 2010, with a particular focus on job creation and retention by race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, and geographic location.

Highlights of the report include: …

November 12, 2010 - Alec Departmental Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Facing Up: Managing Diversity In Challenging Times, Carol Hardy-Fanta, Paige Ransford

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

Since its launch in 2008, Commonwealth Compact has grown steadily, employing several strategies to promote diversity statewide. The Benchmarks initiative has collected data, analyzed in this report, on a significant portion of the state workforce. Guided by Stephen Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston, Commonwealth Compact has conducted newsmaking surveys of public opinion and of boards of directors statewide. In addition, it has convened ongoing coalitions with its higher education partners, and established a collaborative of local business schools aimed specifically at increasing faculty diversity. The Compact has sponsored or co-sponsored …

Mine Action Development Funding In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Michael Carrier, John Powell

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine action seeks to eliminate the lingering effects of contamination from landmines and explosive remnants of war, but the need for development in these communities often trumps clearance and mine-risk education activities. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where clearance activities are expected to continue until 2019, the Swiss Development Cooperation and Handicap International are exploring new ways for mine action to integrate development efforts into more traditional mine-action efforts.

Organization Profile: Regional Centre On Small Arms And Light Weapons, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article examines the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which was created in March 2000. Since its inception, RECSA has provided its member states with support in the creation of National Focal Points on small-arms control and management. With its help, seven of RECSA’s member states have developed National Action Plans with goals including SA/LW marking, weapons disposal, and SA/LW education/awareness. Two additional countries are expected to have Action Plans in place in 2011.

The Terter Regional Vocational Training Center, Nick Nwolisa

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Recently, International Eurasia Press Fund helped to form the Terter Regional Vocational Training Center to provide computer, business and vocational training for mine victims and their family members. The victims are also given medical and legal help by the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association. The VTC and the AMVA both work to help war victims reintegrate into society.

A Survivor’S Successful Story: Sadafmo, Reykhan Muminova

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As one of more than 800 Tajik landmine victims, Rahmatova Sadafmo is a 32-year-old woman living in the small mountainous village of Dashtijum on the Tajik-Afghan border. Despite losing her leg in a tragic landmine accident, Sadafmo is able to support herself and her young son with assistance from the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre. She helps other landmine victims and looks toward her future with hope and enthusiasm.

D-Mine Training System: Safer And More Efficient Training Aid For Manual Deminers, Hans Johnsson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

D-MINE™ is a training system that organizations can utilize to simulate situations deminers will actually face in the field. It has proven to be an effective and efficient means of preparing deminers both technically and mentally before they encounter any real mines.

Mine-Action Activities In Western Sahara, Ginevra Cucinotta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2007, the United Nations Mine Action Service has been implementing mine-action activities in Western Sahara. Although the parties to the conflict generally abide by a 1991 ceasefire, the expansive territory remains contaminated by an unknown quantity of mines and explosive remnants of war. The Mine Action Coordination Centre has provided technical coordination and quality assurance and plans to expand its mine-action operations.

Albania Makes Progress In Demilitarization, Matt Goodyear

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the goal of destroying all excess munitions by 2013, the Albanian government is working to eliminate stockpiles of excess military munitions. Following a 2008 deadly explosion at a munitions dismantling factory, the government established safer mandates and successfully destroyed thousands of tons of munitions.

Integrating Erw Programs: The Case For Consolidating Cwd Activities, Mark Adams

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For years, the mine-action community has been revising its definition of explosive remnants of war. Viewing unexploded ordnance, landmines, ammunition stockpiles, and small arms/light weapons as individual threats, the mine-action community has created distinct budgets, programs and policies to address each of them. What were beginning to realize, however, is that a more integrated approach allows for greater progress in reducing the ERW threat.

Bosnia And Herzegovina Demining 15 Years Later, Zoran Grujic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article outlines the demining steps taken by the United Nations and national authorities following Bosnia and Herzegovina’s war in the 1990s. The author further explores the shortcomings and successes of the demining projects and laws, with attention to preparations for the state’s next decade of mine action.

The United Nations Portfolio Of Mine Action Projects, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR, an all-female demining team assesses and clears unexploded ordnance-contaminated land. In Bogotá, Colombia, a team of practitioners nationalizes a plan to train local health personnel about the psychosocial needs of explosive-remnants-of-war victims. In Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, primary schoolchildren attend educational puppet shows about small-arms-and-light-weapons risks. At the heart of each initiative is a collaborative resource-mobilization system called the Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, and in 2010 it gives life to 277 projects in 27 countries.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 14.3 (2010), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Focus: Looking Beyond Mine Action | Feature: Development and Funding | Special Report: Update on National Programs | Notes from the Field | Research & Development

Mine-Action Program In Southern Sudan, Margaret M. Mathiang

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following more than two decades of civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan, much of Southern Sudan has been left contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war. As a result, the Southern Sudan Demining Authority, along with the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Mine Action Office and other organizations, have been diligently working toward clearing 80 percent of the mines in Southern Sudan by 2011.

Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme, Edwin Faigmane

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, UXO Lao reports on its development from 1996 to the present. Focuses include issues related to productivity, quality control, capacity building, gender equality, UXO clearance, and development and funding.

Mine Action In North Sudan, Khalid Ibrahim Hamed

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

North Sudan’s National Mine Action Centre is making great strides toward clearing all known mined areas in Sudan’s northern regions by April 2014. In the following article, the author, a Quality Assurance Officer for NMAC, explores NMAC’s work, future plans, and how it has linked mine action to development and recovery in North Sudan.

Hero Profile: Aki Ra, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Khmer Rouge made Aki Ra a soldier when he was still a child. Now, close to 30 years later, he can be found working tirelessly to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance in Siem Reap, Cambodia—some planted by his own hands. As a result of his work, the Cambodia Landmine Relief Museum Facility houses thousands of detonated landmines and UXO, and provides a home for orphaned landmine victims. Aki Ra has received international recognition for his humanitarian efforts, including his recent selection as a Top 10 candidate for the CNN Hero of the Year award.

The Growing Threat To Humanitarian Operations, Adrian King

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Deminers and other humanitarian-aid workers around the world, though previously viewed as off-limits, have become targets of distrust and even violence by certain groups. This article explores the reasons for this shift in ideology, and what action humanitarian organizations must take in order to protect their personnel.

Falkland Islands Demining Pilot Project: Completion Of Phase 1, Robin Swanson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Kingdom has started to remove anti-personnel mines from the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in order to meet its obligations under Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention. A pilot phase was completed in June 2010 to clear four suspected hazardous areas—a critical first step to inform future projects following the conclusion of the Joint U.K.-Argentine Feasibility Study.

Strengthening The Demining Sector Response To Hiv/Aids In Sub-Saharan Africa, Martin Chitsama

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, the author explores how HIV/AIDS affects deminers in the African areas where the disease is most prevalent. He considers how deminers’ lifestyles make them especially susceptible to HIV/AIDS and suggests mobile HIV/AIDS programs can effectively combat this growing threat.

Economic Reintegration And Rehabilitation Of Nepalese Landmine/Ied Victims, Purna Shova Chitraker

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article examines the effectiveness of a victim-assistance program in Nepal conducted by Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL). In the program’s two phases, the organization helped rehabilitate 67 victims of landmines and improvised explosive devices and reintegrate them into society. The report details the NCBL’s program goals, activities and outcomes, and addresses the challenges and future aspirations of victim assistance in Nepal.

In Remembrance: Stephen “Darby” Allan, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Stephen “Darby” Allan, a Technical Field Manager with Mines Advisory Group, died on 15 October 2010, following an explosion in which he was critically injured. The explosion took place around noon as Darby was doing mine-clearance work at a site near Kapoeta, in southern Sudan. He died a few hours later. Darby is survived by his wife Karen and his children, Sarah and David.